WEST PALM BEACH — In observing Memorial Day, CareerSource Palm Beach County is urging employers to recognize veterans for their service as well as for their unique skills and qualifications when seeking employee candidates. Many Palm Beach County employers actively seek veterans through CareerSource because of the qualities they have acquired in a wide variety of specialized fields during their service. CareerSource is a proud employer of many veterans, including our president and CEO.

Steve Craig, president and CEO of CareerSource Palm Beach County, said, “Memorial Day is set aside to honor those generations of men and women who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in defending our country. At the same time, we are honored to provide a full realm of employment and training services to military veterans and their spouses as they transition to civilian life.”

Federal tax incentives and training grants are available to employers for hiring veterans. Employers should contact CareerSource at 561-340-1060, option 3 for more information.

Memorial Day also caps the observance of May as National Military Appreciation Month. Of the 1.4 million veterans in Florida, more than 82,000 are located in Palm Beach County. The observance expresses support for service men and women, and highlights the priority they are provided in the administration of employment programs and services. This includes services to veterans and their spouses at any of the three CareerSource career centers in Palm Beach County, as well as participation in special employment campaigns such as Paychecks for Patriots and Hiring Our Heroes.

Veterans who are residents of Palm Beach County are encouraged to contact CareerSource Palm Beach County about the special employment assistance available to them at career centers in West Palm Beach, Delray Beach and Belle Glade, or at www.careersourcepbc.com. Veterans’ services are provided at no cost and include:

• Classes and facilities for job search
• Career development/consulting/placement services
• Grants for job training for those who qualify
• Talent identifiers and assessments
• Referrals to educational and vocational training programs
• Access to computers, fax machines, phones and copiers for job searches
• Veterans on our staff who know how to effectively connect your military experience and skills with prospective civilian employers

CareerSource Palm Beach County is the non-profit organization chartered by the state to lead workforce development in Palm Beach County. During the past five program years, CareerSource assisted more than 118,000 residents find employment ranging from entry level to executive suite, with salaries from these jobs creating $2.2 billion in annual wages. CareerSource also awarded nearly $15 million in grants to area businesses and employers for training and educational assistance during that time.